Clasp for garment-supporters



(No Model.) l G. E. ADA-MS.

CLASP FOR GARMENT SUPPORTERS.

No. 543,716. Patented July 30, 1895.

7 UNITED STATES P TENT OFFICE.

GEORGE E. ADAMS, OF NEW BRITAIN, CONNECTICUT.

CLASP FOR GARMENT-SUPPORTERS.

SPEOIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 543,715, dated July 30, 1895.

Application filed May 2, 1395. Serial No. 547,367. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE E. ADAMS, of New Britain, in the county of Hartford, State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Clasps for Garment- Supporters; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

This invention has for its object to provide a simple and strong clasp which shall be ca pable of being locked in closed position to insure a firm and secure grip on the fabric or co-operating article; and the invention consists in certain novel details of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts, all as will be now described, and pointed out particularly in the appended claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a clasp constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig.2 is a longitudinal section through the same. Fig. 3 is a similar section with the clasp open.

Like letters of reference indicate parts in all the figures.

In the practical embodiment of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, I have formed the complete device of but two pieces of metal, and the capability of being so manufactured is a decided feature of the invention. 7

The body of the device (lettered A) is adapted the same to be fastened to the supporting tape, web, or'

other supporting member which it is desired to connect to the other member or garment through the medium of the clasp by the usual ears or teeth a at the upper end.

The body A is preferably hollowed out or concave on the under side to receive the jaw member, and at the lower end it is formed with arms or flange-ears B extending parallel to each other and adapted to form the direct supports for said jaw member, being for this purpose provided with bearings b for pintles or journals on the jaw member. This jaw member consists of a piece of sheet metal centrally doubled on itself to form spring jawarms 0 O, which arms terminate in co-operatingfgripping-jaws D, having the usual holding-teeth d, and are preferably ribbed and flanged, as at d, to strengthen them when formed of sheet metal. The strengthening or stifiening ribs may, and preferably do, run through the whole device, as shown.

Pintles E are formed on or attached to the lower or outer arm at a point intermediate the ends, being adapted to fit and work in the bearings b on the body, while'a closing and locking cam or projection F is formed on the inner arm 0 in position to co-oper'ate with the body A to force the clasp-jaws together, as illustrated in Fig. 1, when the arms or jaws and body are brought into approximate alignment.

The tendency of the spring of the arms is to separate the arms, holding the jaws open, and when the jaws and body are turned at an angle to each other, as in Fig. 3, the edge of the body drops into the depression f in front of the projection F, thereby allowing the jaws to open widely; but, as before stated, when said parts are brought into approximate alignment, as by grasping the body and rear end of the arms between the thumb and finger, the body rides over the projection F or the latter is forced in between the pintles and body, thereby closing the jaws firmly.

In the preferred construction the parts remain in closed position, because of the fact that the highest point of the projection goes beyond the bearing-point, and the springing apart of the arms then tends to throw the body toward the rear ends of the arms, and

so the arms would naturally stay closed; but

to insure this result and lock the parts securely I form a locking shoulder or recess G on the projection or cam, behind orinto which the bearing-edge of the body drops, as shown clearly in Fig.2.

The device is exceedingly simple, both to manufacture and use, and at the same time it is so formed that the usual strains are brought in line and do not tend to dismember or bend the parts out of shape.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is- 1. A clasp, such as described, comprising a body, a pair of connected spring jaw arms, a pivotal connection between the body and outer arm at a point intermediate the ends of the arm and a bearing projection or cam on the inner arm cooperating with the body to close the jaws; substantially as described.

2. A clasp, such as described, comprising a body portion a pair of spring jaw arms formed from a single piece of metal doubled on itself, the body and outer arm being pivotally connected together at a point intermediate the ends of the arm and a projection or cam on the inner arm cooperating with the body to close the jaws, the highest point on the projection or cam being adapted to move past the bearing on the body when the jaws are closed; substantially as described.

3. A clasp, such as described, comprising a body portion adapted to be secured to a support and having ears or flanges at opposite edges extending in substantially parallel planes and a pair of spring jaw arms formed from a single piece of metal doubled on itself centrally, with pintles on the outer arm cooperating with bearings in the ears on the body and a projection or cam on the inner arm cooperating with the body to close the jaws and having a shoulder for cooperation with the bearing on the body whereby the parts are locked; substantially as described.

4. A clasp,such as described, comprising a body, a pair of spring arms the body and the outer arm being pivotall y connected together, a cam or projection on the inner arm cooper-- ating with the body to close the jaws, and having the depression in front of the projection, into which the edge of the body may drop to permit the jaws to open Widely; sub stantially as described.

GEORGE E. A DA l\IS.

\Vitnesses:

II. C. HINE, v G. W. 'lnAU'r. 

